Tonight is the one year anniversary. My mom’s beau (87) called up to my room saying, “I think you should know this. Your mother just stood in front of the microwave not knowing how to turn it on. Same thing with the television.”
The next morning, before I knew it, her ride picked her up and wisked her away to her pool class, with no suit underneath. I got a concerned call. That day her beau and I took Mom to the ER. No evidence of stroke was found. Something had happened though, and she’s never been the same.
The next morning I came downstairs to find her wandering around in a daze, half dressed. It was obvious she couldn’t be alone. The troops were rallied (my sister and brother, who are now there with her). In those first two months it was mostly me. It was a very rough transition for both my mom and I. No one has quite recovered. However, we count our many blessings!
This was one of my last blog posts, chronicling what happened. It’s hard to believe a whole year has passed. I’ve been in a time warp.
Growing up Catholic, these two Saints of Assisi, Clare.and Francis.were my favorite. Now my “religion” is Mysticism, for all the reasons Lisa pointed out here in this beautiful and timely post.
Continuing with my theme of honoring March as Women’s History Month, I wanted to add to the Women Mystics section of this blog. There are so many mystics I would love to share with you, but with all the interest in the new Pope, and his choosing of the name ‘Francis’ in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, I decided to focus on St. Clare, St. Francis’ devoted student, helper, nurse, and founder/abbess of her own order.
Before doing so however, I wanted to clarify that I try to select women mystics from all different spiritual backgrounds for this intermittent series, and doing so doesn’t necessarily represent support for the traditions within which they believed. I am personally interested in the universality of mystic experience. When I read about individuals’ mystic experiences across time and cultures, the similarities of them never ceases to amaze me. Truly, seeking and experiencing the…
Egypt is on my Bucket List (a word freshly added to the dictionary). Quintin allows me to travel vicariously with his beautifully spare, architectural photography, with heart and an appreciation for nature.
These photographs document a trekking and 4×4 journey through the Western Desert of Egypt. Starting at Bahariya Oasis we travelled through the Sahara Suda (Black Desert) and Sahara Beida (White Desert) ending up near Farafra. As a compliment to these images I produced a second, more abstract series of photographs entitled “Sahara Sands” from the same trip.
The journey was undertaken with desert explorer Sam McConnell who runs highly recommended adventure travel expeditions to the region in collaboration with Abou Anis of Sub Sinai, off-road driver Khaled, and the bedouin of Bahariya Oasis
Signed limited edition prints of this series are available at £195 each (60x40cm). To purchase please contact me. Larger sizes also available
FUNDAMENTAL FIELD® SEMINAR: FIELD FUNDAMENTALS ~ BEGINNING LEVEL
Dr. Metz has thirty years of clinical & research experience & has published papers on systems theory & energy medicine. His material is unique & innovative, benefitting practitioners & their clients, as well as lay individuals & their families:
The FUNDAMENTAL FIELD of Life-Energy & Advanced Energy Medicine (FUNDAMENTAL FIELD) addresses the profound question, “What is the fundamental nature of life?” It seems evident that if our medicine & healthcare are going to be truly effective & efficient then life’s fundamental nature should be at their foundation. The FUNDAMENTAL FIELD defines this nature as an expression of consciousness, as Vital, or Life-Energy. It provides a unique scientific explanation which reveals Life-Energy to be the fundamental force(s) of nature whose form & function is that of a large-scale, fractal atom. This atom-like Life-Energy field functions as a subtle organizing principle that creates, organizes, & sustains the mind & body.
Within the FUNDAMENTAL FIELD are contained the energy systems of traditional energy medicine: original chiropractic & cranio-sacral therapy, Chinese acupuncture & jin shin jyutsu meridian points, Indian ayurveda & modern polarity therapy, & more…). This allows one to integrate these systems into a single therapeutic approach & receive many their benefits, concurrently, in one FUNDAMENTAL FIELD®, Therapy session. This is how the FUNDAMENTAL FIELD is a comprehensive, effective, & advanced medicine & healing discipline. (See essays @ fundamentalfield.com or thespiritedsoul.com).
Requirements: This is seminar is open to the everyone, health care professionals & lay individuals alike. There is no prerequisite for this seminar, but it is a prerequisite for attending any advanced FUNDAMENTAL FIELD® Seminars in the future.
Seminar Goals: For all participants to understand basic FUNDAMENTAL FIELD® Theory & to learn to apply a standardized hands-on treatment protocol using the energies of the FUNDAMENTAL FIELD (for self-treatment, as well as use on others, including babies, children & pets).
Location: Our Educational Annex, 817 College Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA (directly east, next to Dr. Metz’ chiropractic clinic at 809 College Avenue). (See Map).
Cost: $275.00 (for 12.5 hours of instruction/practice). Total to be paid in full at time of registration.
Cancellation Policy: Applicants canceling by March 4th, or later, will not be refunded, but credited for future seminars.
Amenities: Light morning snacks & beverages will be offered. A refrigerator & microwave are available for lunch. Downtown restaurants, delis & a town square are approximately 5 blocks walking distance. A small convenience store is 2 blocks away & several parks are within short driving distance. There are many hotels in the area.
Registration & Information: Please call the Center for Advanced Energy Medicine @ 707-545-1347 (payment via cash/check/credit card).
***Chemically sensitive individuals may attend, so please do not wear strong perfumes or other scented products. Thank you for your cooperation.**
Thank you Lisa, a.k.a. Mommy Mystic, for another detailed and interesting post, accompanied by many of beautiful visuals (my favorite). Here Lisa examines snake mythology from a spiritual and cross cultural perspective, in honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year, Year of the Snake.
Every New Year (be it here, there, or anywhere) is a good opportunity for self-reflection (of which I’m prone). I myself was born in the Year of the Snake. Not surprisingly I suppose, when I was meandering down the streets of Old New Delhi one afternoon in 1999, a peddling astrologer approached me saying I had “sad Snake eyes” and would “return to India someday”…I did, on both accounts. 🙂
More transformation and rebirth on the way…Shed that skin, and let it go…OUCH! But what fresh, smooth vulnerability lies in wait.
“If the account given in Genesis is really true, ought we not, after all, to thank this serpent? He was the first schoolmaster, the first advocate of learning, the first enemy of ignorance, the first to whisper in human ears the sacred word liberty.”
– Robert Green Ingersoll
In honor of the Year of the Snake, which will arrive with Chinese and Tibetan New Year on February 10th, I decided to explore the snake as a symbol across cultures and history, just as I did with the dragon last year. If you’d like to read some of the predictions for the Year of the Snake based in the Chinese and Tibetan astrology systems, I wrote a bit on that over at Bellaonline.com. This post is more of a free-form exploration of the snake and the serpent as a symbol. Symbols speak to us beyond words, on a…
Will We Get There? Yes We Will. (Photo by Maggie Begley
“May God in His mercy grant that every day we may be troubled, tried, disciplined, or make some progress.” ~ St. Augustine
“May we willingly reside in our distress, no longer resisting what is, is the real key to transformation. As painful as it may be to face our deepest fears, we do reach the point where it’s more painful not to face them. This is a pivotal point in the practice of life.” ~ Ezra Bayda
I’m feeling all the growing pains of transformation, as some of you might be who are reading this. When we are going through such things, if we can poke our head out to have a glimpse of what’s going on outside us, it’s nice to have a little commiseration, encouragement and humor to see us through the most painful moments.
One of those times, last May, I went with my good friend to see this movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. She and I had been to India several times together, and as I see myself and my dear ones getting older, the plot appealed to me as well. I especially hold tight to the line, “Everything will be alright in the end, so if it is not alright, it is not yet the end.” 🙂
As in the movie, I’m facing the challenge head-on, with the goal not just to cope through life, but to thrive regardless of circumstance! Acceptance, Patience, Hope and Surrender are my bedfellows (and boy do they snore). Transformation is a birthing process, a product of union and integration. Desire > Pain > Bliss. That seems to be how it goes. Once things gain momentum, there’s no going back (like it or not, can’t climb back in the chute). And that’s ultimately a good thing.
Due to personal circumstances, I am not able to make monthly posts as I used to. Thus, I am forwarding this post by Lisa, a fellow blogger, with the wish that all of you had a grateful Thanksgiving Holiday and have a Happy Solstice and Christmas Holiday in your future. For all of those who don’t do so well during this time of year, my heart, thoughts and prayers are with you.
First, just a reminder that the final teleseminar for this Fall starts next Sunday, November 25th – Ancient Egyptian Mysticism. This will be a fun one, and I’d love to have many of you join us!
We are moving into ‘Solstice prep’ season – the period leading into a Solstice when you can feel the energy pulling you towards it. These periods are particularly good times for rebirths – for releasing that which we don’t need, and planting seeds for that which we wish to attract or manifest, in ourselves or our lives. To support you in this process I wanted to offer you a gentle and flexible chakra-based meditation for letting go of that which no longer serves you, and pulling in that which does.
This meditation works with the breath; after all, we do exactly this – pull in what we need, release what we don’t –…
The Informational Processing & Perception of the Stressor.
The Stress Response & Its Effect on Our System.
These all add up to decreased health & well-being. The Stressor is the situation that initiates & stimulates the Stress Response. Informational Processing & Perception by the individual (which of course varies from person to person), is what determines WHICH stimulus is indeed a Stressor to that person. This can build over time, or occur very swiftly. Our Processing & Perception is what connects our Stressor to the Response by our system. The Stress Response is well-defined and involves all aspects of the individual, from psychological to physiological. This response is a call to action response from a threat, or sense of urgency, about something in one’s environment. It is designed to be a short-term event. Too much Stress Response, especially when it turns chronic, undermines our health. The Stress Response is non-specific, it is not limited to any specific stimuli. Any number of different stimuli, which can be ANY aspect of one’s life, can become a Stressor and initiate a Stress Response. The Stress Response is cumulative…many different SMALL Stressors can have the same effect as one LARGE Stressor.
Identify & remove the Stressor (removing is not always feasible, but identifying it is).
Change how we Process & Perceive the information so that the Stressor’s meaning to us is not so compelling or threatening.
Counteract the effects of the Stress Response.
These 3 approaches interact in positive self-reinforcing ways, for example: Removing the effect of the Stress Response will allow us to process information in different ways, changing the meaning of the Stressor, and providing insight as how to more effectively remove the Stressor, which in turn means less Stress Response. Potential Stressors are internal as well as external. Our thoughts can initiate a Stress Response without the presence of an external Stressor. For example, when our thoughts are difficult to control, negative, self-reinforcing, and part of a stress-creating pattern, we then have Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD). Conscious/unconscious internal conflicts can be a source of continuous chronic stress. Our impulses to act are blocked by conflict, building tension. We are compelled to act, but can’t, because our conscious/unconscious selves may see any other alternative as threatening in some way. The best approach to resolving INTERNAL stress is to handle in the same way as our approach to EXTERNAL stress, by addressing ALL 3 components.
The physiological stress response starts in the Central Nervous System (CNS). There are two pathways. First, is through the hypothalamus to the pituitary, & then to the endocrine glands of the body, especially the adrenal cortex. Second, is the acute fight or flight response which is an activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS), especially the adrenal medulla.
All bodily systems exhibit a Stress Response & its various stages:
(This portion of the energy model of stress is based on the work of Jim Said, D.C.).
Optimal Functioning
Alarm
Defense
Exhaustion
Collapse / Degeneration
These stages are related to internal energy of a system, which in turn are related to the phase states of matter: vacuum, air, combustion, liquid, & solid. These phase states, & stress stages, relate to the traditional Energy Medicine elements of: Ether, Air, Fire, Water, & Earth (as used in Polarity Therapy & comprise the Negative Pole of my Fundamental Field® Theory).
As an example, these are the stages as they occur in the endocrine system: If stress continues after the initial alarm stage, the endocrine system goes into the defense stage. Here the thyroid begins to compensate for the over-worked adrenals, which can lead to thyroid problems. As the stress becomes chronic, the exhaustion stage, the thyroid gives out & the ovaries compensate, for males it’s the testes. This can lead to hormonal problems especially in women, with naturally varying hormonal cycles. As the Stress Response continues, the thymus & immune system are the next to compensate for the exhaustion in the system. This can lead to lowered immune system & chronic fatigue (viral infection). In the degenerative state, the hypothalamus & pituitary begin to fail. This leads to a multitude of problems & there is little regulation & feedback within the hormonal system.
I have gathered this knowledge through personal experience with my patients & I call it, the Stress Cascade.
This just in on my Facebook Page today: an interesting question came along that I thought might appeal to others not on Facebook…
“I was a student of Richard’s at a Polarity conference and his answer to how the chakras and the Chinese meridians flow together has always stuck with me. I now have a student questioning me on why I choose this modality, as she has used acupuncture a lot with good results and why should I know this new work over that one? I’m wondering if I could get that info from you again to help her get the whole picture. You can share it on my Midwest Polarity page if you like. Thanks so much, Lucy Jackson, RPE, Mpls, Mn and Ashland, Wi”
And here is Dr. Metz’ response that I posted for him:
“Hi Lucy, I have changed the name of my healing discipline from “Unified Field of Energy Medicine” to the “Fundamental Field of Advanced Energy Medicine (Fundamental Field).”Fundamental Field® is my registered trademark. I hope the following will answer your inquiry. As I stated in my previous seminar, the Fundamental Field unifies and integrates all the different disciplines of traditional energy medicine into one energy system. This includes the two great traditional healing systems of Ayurveda from India and Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture from China, as well as Polarity Therapy, Jin Shin, Original Chiropractic, Cranio-Sacral Therapies, and more. This is how one can receive many of the benefits of these different disciplines, simultaneously in one Fundamental Field® Therapy session.
Very briefly, the following is how these various disciplines are united and integrated within the Fundamental Field. Life is an expression of consciousness. This life creating expression is called life-energy. Life-energy is the fundamental forces of nature. The soul creates life in the same manner God creates the universe. One of the fundamental forces of nature is magnetic energy. The Fundamental Field, which creates, organizes, and sustains the mind and body first originates from the eye-center source chakra. It does this as a magnetic field. As such, it organizes the body and its energies in this same way, into a big magnet. The main feature of a magnet is that it has three distinct poles: Positive, Neutral, and Negative. These three poles are part of one energy system. What goes on in one Pole affects, and is affected by, what happens in the other Poles. The three Poles define our primary therapeutic reflex pattern. When there is a problem in one Pole, we also address the reflexes in the two other Poles. These are essential Polarity Therapy principles.
Within three magnetic poles of the Fundamental Field are found all the traditional elemental chakras and their elemental energies. These chakras and energies are the defining feature of the Fundamental Field’s magnetic poles. When there is a problem with one of the elements in one of the Poles, we also address the corresponding elemental reflexes in other two Poles.
The three Poles of the Fundamental Field are:
1). Positive Pole: Consists of cranio-sacral areas of the conscious mind, head, and cerebrospinal nervous system. The traditional elemental energy is called Positive Fire. It consists of the elements that are the positive form of the elements Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth These chakras have a positive electrostatic charge. They are the proton components of the atom-like Fundamental Field. When these chakras spin, they create the polarized energies of these elements. Their electrostatic fields create the oval-field of the head.
2). Neutral Pole: Consists of the Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture elemental chakras of Metal, Earth, Fire, Water, and Wood. It is located primarily in the extremities of the body. The chakras are on the hands, feet, and Jin Shin points. They have a small electrostatic charge related to gender; male-positive, female-negative. They are the neutron components of the atom-like Fundamental Field. When these chakras spin, they create the polarized energies of these elements. The electrostatic fields create the oval-fields of the hands and feet. These elements are derived from the neutral form of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
3). Negative Pole: Consists of the traditional elemental chakras of the caduceus from Ayurveda and Polarity Therapy of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. It is located at the pelvis, trunk, and neck of the body. These chakras have a negative electrostatic charge. They are the electron components of the atom-like Fundamental Field. When these chakras spin, they create the polarized energies of these elements. Their electrostatic fields create the oval-fields of the trunk of the body.
Because all the various energy disciplines are connected together in one system, as you work in one discipline, acupuncture for example, this will eventually affect all the others. But it is much more efficient and effective to address the whole life-energy system at one time. This is accomplished by contacting and connecting all the poles. As the various disciplines of traditional energy medicine are found in the poles, this connects and integrates them in an understandable and practical way. For example, one pattern might connect the Metal element of the neutral pole to the Water element of the negative pole and then to the Fire element of the positive pole.
I hope this aids in your understanding. For those who’d like more information on sessions/seminars, my upcoming book, and/or to be placed on our e-mail list, please contact our office in Santa Rosa, CA, at 707-545-1347, or visit our website, www.fundamentalfield.com.
One of the most amazing journeys I have taken was with my American school chum and her family to their countries of origin, Jordan and Israel (the West Bank/Holy Land as they referred to it), back in 1984. The Middle, Near and Far East can be a wonderland for the senses that fills the soul: the sights, the smells, the sounds, the tastes, hands as utensils, flowing fabrics, blend of old and new, the ingenuity, the graciousness and hospitality, the call to prayer. It hurts to know the amount of strife and bloodshed that has gone on there, that my friends have experienced first-hand. When I returned from that trip, my first job was working in a Hof Brau where the owners were a married couple, one from Iran, the other, Iraq. Not a popular union at the time, given the politics. Subsequently, many years later I travelled to India to attend a wedding there. I immediately took to the culture and the people. My favorite places to visit have been these. The photos by Quintin Lake, here and on his blog, stir up all those emotions for me. Thanks for the visit.
Edit: I’m honoured and delighted that this post is featured in Freshly Pressed. Thanks for all your likes and comments and follow my Facebook Page to see my latest work and keep in touch!
As a catholic child with a progressive mother, I was exposed to the “laying on of hands” as a means to bring about healing. I often heard the prayer, “Where two or more are gathered in My name, I am there.” (Matthew 18:20). There was a definite mystique to it, the joint intention and belief propelling things along. There is power inherent in communal belief, though God is ultimately in charge. Surrendering to the Creator’s will is what I pray for…all the minutia is irrelevant really. We are here to do our work of Spiritual Growth, and who but the Knower and the Doer can determine what’s best for us, and how to achieve it?
In my work as an energetic bodywork therapist, I communicate to the Universe my and my client’s attention to and intention for personal/spiritual growth, highest healing good, Divine protection and guidance to direct the session, with my hands and intuition as my instrument. The Life-Energy which flows into and throughout our bodies in prescribed pathways, is what animates us and is responsible for our well-being. It is part Soul- Energy. When Dr. Metz and I evaluate a person’s energetic system, we can do that at a distance, the client doesn’t even need to be in front of us physically. That’s because the body is a reflection of subtle Life-Energy, and the energy itself creates a resonance which can be sensed. That pattern of resonating energy contains thoughts, beliefs, emotions, as well as the subtle energy which is the foundation of our biochemistry, physiology and structure. Prayers and positive healing intention/attention are forms of subtle Life-Energy as well, which can alter one’s and other’s energetic systems. Of course, when doing bodywork, it is best and most efficient to work on the physical body directly, through touch…One polarized system (the practitioner), interacting with another (the client), to move the energy along, thereby releasing stagnation of old dysfunctional patterns. The goal is to achieve integration and wholeness within the system, in all three poles. Remember, Dr. Metz’ Fundamental Field Therapy bridges science and spirit. The physical body is the interface between the two: Spirit follows the laws of science and nature by flowing through us in an organized pattern of polarized magnetic energy, the Fundamental Field Pattern of Life-Energy.
As suggested in the comments by the author of this re-blog, SoulDipper, she recommends the movie The Living Matrix as something of interest for us all to see. Apparently Dr. Larry Dossey in the video above was one of the producers. You are right SoulDipper! I have had this movie in my possession for quite a while now, and have yet to see it! Too many things going on for me at the moment, but it looks fascinating.
Share something you’ve been wanting to tell the world.
or
Do an Occupy of your own and add a link in comments.
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This space thrives on positive material. Soul Dipper reserves the right to decline any submission that is presented with a flair for the negative, deemed to be derogatory or could be surmised as slanderous.
Given the personal challenges that this Spirited Soul is going through at the moment, focusing on the mystical, pausing for stillness and connection, is even more important to me now.
I haven’t had much time or energy for blog posts, so today I decided to re-blog the post above, from a fellow kindred soul on WordPress. I thought pairing this entry with the quote below from a discussion on my Facebook page with my friend and supporter, Christian, was appropriate for today.
I had posted there: “Just because something can be explained scientifically, doesn’t make it any less mystical. In fact, for me it makes it more so. Science & Spirit are not mutually exclusive. They enhance one another, just as good partners should.”
Another friend asked me to define my meaning of the word “mystical”. I replied, “Mystical, meaning: magical, mysterious, other-worldly, miraculous, brilliant…I was watching a very ethereal reflection of water in a glass shimmering and dancing on the ceiling. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought I was being visited by an unknown entity…then again, maybe I was…in reflected form. Just musing…”
And here was Christian’s response; too good to let slip by…
“Mystical is the unknown that encompasses all — matter, energy, space, love, nothing, waves — and the way that all interacts; it is at one and the same time the merging of one’s love with the fundamental organizational energy. The mystical is luminous: we are in awe; we are terrified by it. The mystical resides in the infinite; it is the acceptance that the infinite can never be known. It is the knowledge and experience that the Self and the infinite coincide. It is the unknown that is unknowable.” ~ Christian Gerike, Wise Gentleman & Scholar
Stop, drop and listen…It’s all right there…Right here. Everywhere.
As summer winds down, and my kids head back to school (which means more posts here, as well as some new teleseminar offerings to be announced next week) I am so happy to share a guest post from Chantal Monte, whom I interviewed here back in January. In this beautiful offering, she invites us into our simplicity and silence, where we are ‘infinitely awake and already free’:
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If you’re like me and have tried everything else, try sitting in the silence and see what you find in this spaciousness within you…
~
A teacher once told me, “Stop! Stop everything! Drop all your spiritual knowledge. Stop seeking, acquiring, and attaining. Let go of all your tools, books, teachings, and see what is right here…always here.”
In our busy, fast-paced lives, “stopping” seems almost unheard of. When do we have time to stop – to simply stop and…
As I sit down to write this it’s just after the Memorial Day Holiday, which here in the United States we celebrate on the last Monday in May. This Day commemorates our country’s servicemen and women who have sacrificed their lives while serving our country. By the time I actually get around to posting this piece however, for most of us it will be old news. We will be on to the next thing…but every day is a memorial day if you’ve lost someone you love, regardless of circumstance.
“IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH” (Photo by Maggie Begley)
Today, as another cancer patient came in for an energetic bodywork session from me, I was reminded again that we are all warriors in our own way. We each have battles to fight and challenges to face…internal, external, and back again. There’s no retreating from the battlefield of our mind, our body, our emotions and how they are all intricately interconnected. Nor can we escape some the stressful circumstances under which many of us live. Eventually we must face the facts. In the end, we all have let go of our life…with each small birth/death, transition/change we encounter as part and parcel of our existence…it WILL come to an end. In the midst of life, we are in death…
Forgive me for my morbidity. I seem to like to think and write about such things. For instance, previous posts have been titledMy Life Has Been About Deathand Every Soul Has Its Day. The trend continues as I see my niche as an Energy Medicine Practitioner turning into one of treating the chronically and terminally ill. This week I learned of the passing of two of my faithful clients. One had been seeing me since she was diagnosed with breast cancer, seven years ago. The other discovered she had ovarian cancer just two years ago. The former saw me regularly, just about every week, with a few gaps for travel when she was feeling better. The latter went more of the full blown western medicine route and I was only seeing her in the last couple months, but I had known her since I started working at the front desk at Dr. Metz office over a decade ago. I am feeling the loss of their kinship…sweet and dear people. Death does not discriminate. (I often wonder if our work together prolonged their pain, but I was assured by them and their families, that even if the endpoint was death, I did give them relief from their pain, an oasis of calm nurturance, and helping them to feel well enough to attend special landmarks in their family’s lives. I too believe that no healing work we do on and for ourselves is ever lost. We carry that soul growth forward, to the next stop on our journey).
In Dr. Metz and my office we have seen many cases like these two. It seems, as with all else, that prevention is an important key. I would not recommend waiting for a fatal diagnosis to begin energy therapy. By the time disease has made it to physical matter, it has a head start. Dr. Metz and I have seen cases turn around completely, slow down, or come to an end, as did my two faithful. Ultimately each person’s spiritual and healing path is what determines what they will go through, or not, as with everything in life. Dr. Metz Fundamental Field Therapy addresses the task of keeping one’s whole system balanced and strong. We start at the foundation of the energy source, the wireless anatomy and circuitry, with your unique energetic intelligence as our guide. As practitioners, we basically listen to what your energy body has to tell us, act as agents of highest healing good via our Therapy, and do our best to support you through your process. It is up to each patient/client to take it from there, to see what develops, and to make their choices. No one is immune. We can’t get away from ourselves. That is something we all have in common.
Everything happens for a reason, and usually has a blessing imbedded in there somewhere. Even when it’s impossible to see, a blessing will unfold. If it’s meant to be, God will provide a way. When I pray, I ask that my intuition will be heightened so that I can HEAR and FEEL the connection of God’s grace which is forever present. I am still rattled by my own recent events, those of other loved one’s, and of strangers’ struggles. I am stricken at how hard life really is!! Unbearable at times. So much pain: mental, emotional, physical AND spiritual. I have relied on God and the angelic helpers to get me through, and they have generously responded in kind. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still have to go through my stuff, and will continue to do so, but they allow me some temporary relief so that I can carry on.
So all my fellows out there, don’t forget to ask for help, especially from our Angel and Saint allies. Remember too that we can each be earth angels to one another with the simplest of acts. My big contributions have been lots of smiles and kind words wherever I go. I haven’t had many resources for giving in the last decade, or for most of my life for that matter. I’ve always been rather sickly and reclusive, with bursts of extroversion and wellness. This last decade, I’ve sought to change that by focusing entirely on my own healing. I have felt guilty and useless at times because of it, but was always reminded of the airline attendant admonishing to passengers to “put the oxygen mask on your self before your child”. (Now I know why. You can’t give away that which you don’t have yourself, or you’ll pass out in the process and be of no help to anyone). Plus, I felt if I asked for or received help from others in my depleted state, I would feel even more guilt believing that I would never be able to reciprocate, in the midst of fighting for my own life. Good thing I seized the opportunity to save myself, or I would never have been able to ask for, receive, or reciprocate the help that I am now receiving with caregiving my mother, while still living at her home. Everything is coming into plain view…There are no accidents, and if there are, it’s how I perceive/deal them that makes the difference. The toughest times are the ones that can really be a turning point in one’s life.
I have also found, whether you are giving or receiving (two sides of the same precious treasure), regardless of one’s talents, you/someone in need can always benefit from serving/being served. In times like these, I’ve grown to realize that it is better to do than to ask, as long as you are respectful. See a need and fill it. Many who are struggling are so overwhelmed by what’s going on that they can’t or wont ask for help. You can ask first what you can do to help, and if they reply, “I don’t know”, you can then put on your angel wings and gently swoop in, do your good deed, and swoop out. It doesn’t have to be dramatic, intrusive or complicated, and it’s not a competition of who does more or better.For example, it can take as little as a half-hour, with a variety of options:If you’re a cook, well that’s the most obvious need usually; if you can drive a car and follow directions, that’s the second; if you’re a professional, provide a certain percentage for free (you have to make a living); if you’re an expert organizer, you know what to do!; if you’re a techie wiz-kid, set up the DVR to pre-program shows, or manage/update emailings; if you’re a nurturer with a soft touch, give a gentle foot massage; if you’re a homemaker, clean and do laundry; if you’re a gardener, tend and water the yard; if you love animals/kids, take the them for a walk, a wash, a play or a poop :); if you’re a hairstylist, wash/shave/cut/style away; if a seamstress, sew a button, mend a tear; a fashionista, offer a makeover; love to shop, spruce up the decor a bit; a comedian, bring on the levity; an artist, do some art therapy; a musician, bring your instrument along to lift spirits; an avid reader, pick a good piece and read aloud; a good listener, even better. I think what is as important, if not most important in all of this, is being silent. Be present to that fellow human being, accept them where they (and you) are at, acknowledge them in their bare vulnerability. At this moment, we can tap in to what it’s like to become free of ego, and can feel the Oneness that we all share….or not! This is rough business, and guaranteed, “stuff” will inevitably come up, especially if there are unresolved dynamics that come into play. Regardless, hold that space as sacred too. You will learn a lot about yourself in the process…
As quoted in the movie, TheBest Exotic Marigold Hotel, “Everything will be alright in the end, and if it is not alright, it is not yet the end.”🙂 Alone AND together, we will make it through this life, on to the next, and we will be the better for it. Everything will be ALRIGHT…
My mom is in the Winter of her life, though it is Springtime and approaching Summer here in California. Maybe that’s why she has me pruning everything to death? The fuchsia you see in the foreground of the photo below is down to stubs now, as is the tree out front.
Photo by Maggie Begley
On May 1st, my mother’s moderate dementia (of the vascular variety), took a sudden turn for the worse. Within an hour or so, she went from being as functional as she had been (under her “new normal”), to almost completely incapacitated. That left me, her live-in companion, to make a sudden shift myself…to supreme care-taker extraordinaire. Talk about shock and awe. I had never showered, dressed or tied the shoe of another person, let alone my own mother, who had just dressed herself that morning.
Of course, being the energy medicine practitioner that I am, my evaluation of the situation was that the energy had been drained in her Negative Pole because of a virus that had been making the rounds. This one hit her hard…not in a detectable physical way so much, but in a cognitive brain overload. Since we are made up of polarized life-energy, when too many items pull on a particular circuit, that circuit is depleted until power is restored to full capacity. That’s what I think happened to my mom…too much energy going to her immune system to fight the virus didn’t leave enough energy for her already compromised brain to function properly. When I took her to the Emergency Room, the doctor said, “Sometimes a patient has an infection which can mimic or induce stroke-like symptoms.” I thought to myself, “Ah Ha! We are not so far off in our thinking.” Of course, Dr. Metz and I often detect things energetically that have not made their way yet to the body’s biochemistry, physiology or structure, which means much of the time evidence of such will not show via standard medical tests. Sure enough, no evidence of infection, NOR evidence of a stroke, hmmm. I’m not gonna rule out either/both.
Now 25 days later, she still hasn’t recovered her ability to have lasting or complex conversation, nor can she read or write. She can do small tasks, and has no problem pointing out her wishes in the garden…everything needs to be pruned waaaay back (insert grand gestures here). She doesn’t seem to have the awareness that this is springtime, not winter, and is the worst time to be pruning. No lemons or camellias this year…
“To everything, a season.” ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
However, for good or for bad, she has become more self-aware in the last 2 weeks. She knows what is happening to her, we can talk about things in limited ways. The other day when we were sitting in the backyard, she turned to me and tearfully said, “Nothing left”. She stood to lean and peer over the fence around the home she’s lived in for 50 years, luckily I had my phone and was able to capture the moment that you see in the above photo.
She still hasn’t called me by name, just calls out “helloooo?” or “honey, that’s too hot”. She tries to express her sense of humor in physical ways, with funny faces, movements and such. Nonetheless, this is all very heart-breaking. Our sometimes overly-bonded, semi-contentious relationship has been softened as I care for her and she lets down the guards she had built up over the years. The passage of time does that to a person. It makes me fear and dread getting older, but in this case, there are still blessings to be thankful for. The more gratitude you have, the more you see. Even when you temporarily lose faith, it comes to find you. For me, it shows itself in the form of hearts…like the one you see on the bluff below.
Photo by Maggie Begley
Ironically, this photo was taken during my first guilt-full Mother’s Day off from being an attentively loyal daughter. I’ve always have made sure that my mom was totally attended to on every holiday, being that it was mostly just her and I, how could it be any different? This time though, I had her 88 year old beau come take her for the day so that they could spend some time together before he went in for a heart stent procedure, and so that I could escape for a bit. The coast is always my first choice and it never disappoints. I saw caterpillars, pelicans, seals, and whales on their migration route. It started out cloudy and cool, and by sunset it was balmy and sunny. Weather imitates Life.
My family has always been a fractured one, with a long-deceased father, and 4 estranged siblings. My dad died when my mother was 48, I was 8, and my siblings were 19-23 years old. So we also had two different families within one. We were never close, only me to my mom and vice-versa, and I felt like I was in the middle all the time of one person or another (I don’t relish the role of peacemaker, but I compulsively took it on). Anyway, this recent event with my mom, who now needs supervision/assistance 24/7 has brought my family together in unprecedented ways. We all agreed that our intention is to take the best care of our mom that we can, and heal all of our relationships as a family, working towards rebuilding trust and support of one another. God works in mysterious ways…
Photo by Maggie Begley
The above scene is one that I witnessed on a quick walk at a lake nearby our house. I stole a few moments to get out in nature the day after Mom had her incident. I felt SO overwhelmed with stress, worry and responsibility, I just wanted to kill myself! I was recapitulating the time in my life where I felt I had no choice and no support…right after my dad died when I was 8. I felt I went right back there, and became a helpless child. With some bodywork and support from Dr. Metz, I made the connection and was able to process out some huge blocks of emotion and break free from what was. I am not a child anymore, I can ask for help, receive it, and survive sudden and traumatic change in healthy ways. This is going to have a ripple effect that extends beyond this date and place. I will be forever changed by this passage in time. Life, seasonally…
On this earth plane, aside from Divine Love, Change is the one thing we can count on. Polarity is the stuff of which Life is made: Light and Dark, Liquid and Solid, Earth and Sky, Heaven and Hell, Courage and Fear, Gravity and Levity…to name a few…and all the transitions in between. Our task is to Embrace It All, Survive and Thrive, and Be Grateful for Each Lesson, as We Grow in Wisdom and Faith…
I count on God to “cook and season” me juuuuust right for maximum flavor. 🙂 (Foodie that I am, I just had to get an analogy in there some how). 🙂
I say Life imitates art and vice-versa, just as psychoanalysis imitates archaeology and vice-versa? I think that’s why I gravitate towards them. Both involve an adventure in searching, finding, or not finding, patience, diligence, risk-taking, ascertaining, learning, understanding, making connections between past and present. You never know what will reveal itself, when, and how. You might start out looking for one thing, and find another. Everyone involved will have an opinion, and a vested concern in what is done with what is discovered. Warning: Deep Excavations!!
“In both anthropology and psychoanalysis interpretation is archaeological: the uncovering of what is below the surface. Its predominant metaphor is ‘depth.’ The ‘deeper’ the meaning the ‘truer’ the meaning.”
~ From Vincent Crapanzano, ‘Hermeneutics and psychoanalytic anthropology’, in “New directions in psychological anthropology”, 1992, pp. 294-307, Theodore Schwartz, Geoffrey M. White, and Catherine A. Lutz, editors, Publications of the Society for Psychological Anthropology 3, Cambridge, Great Britain: Oxford University Press. [Thank you to my good friend Christian, who shared this quote with me. He is an archaeologist, dream analyst, and all-around well-rounded good guy who shares many of my same interests.]
Keep in mind that there are professional standards, regulations, laws, and rules of conduct in archaeology about who, what, when, where and why it is practiced. It is the same with us as we excavate our own psyches and inner spiritual selves. Proceed with care, in how you choose your team, and be gentle with yourself in the process. The closer you get to your authentic truth, the rockier and more harrowing it can get just before you break through. Here the Golden Rule applies more than ever, and again vice-versa: Love yourself as you would your neighbor, with respect and compassion. That’s a good foundation on any turf.
This is a conversation which began with a friend of a friend on a personal Facebook account. My friend is an atheist who posted this picture, and her friend is obviously not, as you can see by the comments of this person I call, ‘other’.
I had to chime in on the conversation, of course! I thought it was interesting enough to make a post of it. We all come at our existence and how we relate to the bigger picture from different paths.
This is the direct account of what was said, names removed:
Other: what would you know about prayer? just curious
[This was in reply to my atheist friend who posted the photo and who doesn’t make a reply here. The ‘other’ and myself take the conversation further…].
Maggie: We change ourselves by praying to God to help us be a better person, to be grateful, humble, respectful and loving, not to get our way. At least that’s what I pray for. And I do think that everything happens for a reason, that there is a divine plan. As in politics there are conservative religious, and liberal spiritual, as you know, I’m more of the latter. I see your point though, most of the prayerful are biased, wanting God to take sides. They want to be the ones in control instead of a loving non-judgmental God which to me is scapegoating, hypocritical, egocentric and xenophobic.
Other: If I may respectfully say, He is loving and also judgmental. Real love without judgement is not love at all but some warm fuzzy feeling. I agree that most people want to be in control of what God should and shouldn’t do in his/her life. There is no conservative or liberal God but only the God of the Bible. He is the One we need to get to know better and if our opinion differs from His then we are wrong. So I guess He does take sides: His. And we’d better be on His side 🙂
Maggie:My Opinion: I agree, God does take sides when it comes to the basics of “right” and “wrong”. It is up to us to make our decisions and reap the consequences thereof, “good” or “bad”. It’s called free will and personal responsibility. God doesn’t take sides with regards to religion. He loves all of us, unconditionally in a warm fuzzy way, not just a select few. He has His rules, but He is a loving father. I think we project our views on to Him, thus making Him a conservative, a liberal, or non-existent. No one really knows for sure, that’s why I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, without our judgement getting in the way. Who are we to judge?
Other: Perhaps when we read how Jesus treated the religious leaders who had their own opinion about God can give us a better insight what God thinks about religions. He hates false religions. He wants all of us to come to Him, to His reality and not what we make out Him to be. I agree, He is a loving Father but somehow I don’t think His love is the fuzzy, mushy kind. John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the [f]only begotten Son of God. ….and following verses. He asks us to judge! We definitely need to judge but WITH RIGHT MOTIVES not like the Pharisees and the other religious leaders did. If there are genuine “good” and “evil” then we must judge between them correctly like He does.
Maggie: We are operating from different premises, as I don’t use the Bible as my point of reference in the way that you do…So we’ll just have to agree to disagree…
Other: That is fine with me. I just wonder then how you come to objective truth? Or you prefer to be a relativist?
Maggie: I was raised Catholic, but my view of God is more comprehensive now. I’m not a relativist in that I do believe in one absolute truth, but I guess I am a relativist in that I believe that Truth is interpreted relative to each person’s conceptualizations. I’d say I’m an experientialist…for me, experience is the only true knowing. I believe ALL Holy books have value, but I prefer to interpret them from the mystical point of view, not a literal one. Mysticism is a common thread in all major religions, and “pagan” ones as well, meaning seeking direct experience of God. So I guess you could say the former is my objective truth, and the latter is my subjective truth.
The Facebook conversation between the two of us ended at this point. But would you like to add to the conversation here? I invite you…They who pray well together, play well together… 🙂
For more insight into this topic, check this out: “God Is Not a Christian” from the Huffington Post. It is an excerpt from the recent book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
I now end with this, just to show that I have a sense of humor even though I take things very seriously. When something is funny, even with gross generalizations, it usually means it contains a shred of reality… 🙂 I can personally vouch for the Catholic portion.
As some of you know, I have a B.A. degree in anthropology (1990). I’ve never had a career as an anthropologist 😦 but I was lucky enough to work with a great group of archaeologists when I was an Administrative Assistant at the Anthropological Studies Center (and earlier, at the California Historical Resources Information System), both at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California.
One such archaeologist, Mike Newland, is also a very creative and gifted artist, writer and teacher. It is obvious that he cares deeply about who he is, what he does, and about educating others. KQED Public Radio has broadcast several of his radio essays, a couple which I’ve referenced in previous posts. The newest one is about his concern on a recent matter, which speaks on behalf of myself and others who are like-minded. In just a few short moments, he explains the importance of preserving our historical and cultural heritage, in a way that will ultimately benefit all of us, not just a few.
There are those who clearly don’t share this perspective, namely cable’s Spike TV and National Geographic (and the viewers who support the shows in question). Each station is airing a reality show that glamorizes and encourages so-called ‘treasure hunting’, American Diggers and Diggers, respectively. Click here to listen to Mike’s brief radio essay and/or join the Facebook Page called People Against Spike TV’s American Digger.
Of course, the idea of finding buried treasure appeals to a lot of folks, it has long been romanticized as being exciting, and potentially money-making. But it is also disruptive to educational research and disrespectful of our past and the people who created it (if it is done at all, let alone incorrectly). No one is perfect, but at least anthropologists and archaeologists have noble intentions, even if in retrospect they haven’t always approached things in the best way. But they continue to learn and revise their craft as they go. It’s part and parcel of the scientific method. They are our best go-to people, and they need our help.
So, if you want to become involved in hunting/collecting treasures, do so ethically and responsibly. To determine what to do with what you find, in the first place leave it where it is, take a photo if possible, and then consult a reputable, qualified, professional archaeologist, preferably at a local university, about what to do next. Better yet, in addition to seeking out a professional for the short-term, consider the long-term investment of becoming one yourself! Go back to school and find a professional career in which you can channel your passions! 🙂 The ASC at SSU is a good place to start…
When I saw this image through my camera lens, it was mind-boggling in its whimsy and begging to be captured…
When your personal ‘viewfinder’ plays a trick on you, seize it! Question reality, what you see, what you hear, what you assume to be true. I remember my SRJC sociology professor, Scott Fuller, saying: “If you’re bored, it’s just because you’re not asking enough questions.” Though to a certain extent, ignorance IS indeed bliss. I wish there were some things I didn’t know, or didn’t want to know. There’s a lot of yuck out there that I don’t want to step in, but maybe I should. It’s a matter of ability and discernment, about what to handle, if and when. Information = Complicity that’s the dilemma of a curious and conscientious mind, attached to a sensitive soul.
On the bright side, there is so much brilliant Love in this Universe, internally and externally, we couldn’t possibly absorb it all at once, we’d be blinded by the sight! That’s WHY the Divine doesn’t reveal us to ourselves all at once. A permanent state of bliss is not possible on this plane, is it? We must reach Higher to achieve sustainable and lasting Bliss. As such, I keep this flip-side as my positive focus and fully enjoy all the temporary moments, bit by bit, until I achieve permanent status. Learning and growing is what it’s all about, cultivating playfulness and gratitude, whilst skipping… and tripping…along. So ‘on-asking’ and reaching I will go.
The nature of the human mind is to be locked into pre-conceived notions of our limited vision. Breaking outside it is our spiritual nature coming to the surface to save us from ourselves. Taking in the larger context can be thrilling, and unsettling, rocking us off our core, but ensuring a stronger foundation with its jolt. It can also be reassuring, helping us to finally make sense of our own myopic vision. Like an establishing shot in film, it provides information, the big view. Without it, things can be more confusing, a dark room to grope our way through.
Does this establishing shot give you context for the previous photo? (Photo by Maggie Begley)
A raconteur knows their power and is skilled at eliciting emotion, entertainment, and provoking thought, holding our attention hostage till the end. Good storytelling depends on the presentation, sequence and editing of one’s point of view, no matter the medium. I have made a few slide shows in my life, a few for this blog (see samples 1 and 2). As short and simple as they were, putting them together brought this point home. Obviously I am not a professional photographer nor a professional writer…I realize I could use a good editor for the latter. (It’s just me, myself, my camera-phone and computer). The beauty of photography, and writing, is that it enables us to virtually seize a moment in time, that can be enjoyed for eternity. That too is human nature, clinging. With a work of art, you only get one chance to tell an entire story, or many stories at once…all open for interpretation of course. That’s what makes it ‘art’! As you know, my definition is a broad one, how do you define the word?
I should have also taken a shot of the bridge I was standing on, from afar, but this smirky bridge detail was as close as I got. (Photo by Maggie Begley)
I love abstract photos precisely because I like to have my mind ‘messed with’. Close-up macro shots allow us to see things we might have otherwise missed, or not have put together ourselves…when we can’t see the trees for the forest! (For more photos of mine, click on my menu bar’s ‘Foto Flickr-ing’ link, or just click here).
Talk about abstract photos and persons…Today, we don’t have to stray very far to wonder if what we are seeing is real, or should I say, an ‘untouched original’? With photoshopping/digital manipulation and plastic surgery being the norm, we must question reality in the real sense. More so, question the manipulator, and their intentions. Take the following video for instance: It can be argued too, that this is just another art form. The human body has always been a canvas, it’s just that the ante has been upped: Competition for perfection among the masses, with corporations and their advertisers at the helm, greed driving the ship.
Questioning various perspectives is also why I enjoy spirituality, metaphysics, travel, culture, as well as immersing myself in the drama of my nightly dream life. And it’s probably why other folks like to experiment with psychedelic drugs and such…to break down and expand their own barriers of conscious experience and perception. This is not just a current and/or hippie-dippy 1960’s phenomenon. Historically, psychedelic drugs have been used in traditional medicine and religious ceremonies, as well.
Earlier this week, my mind played another trick on me. I lost my glasses. I knew they had to be in my bedroom. I remember having last seen them atop my jewelry box, as I was going to brush my teeth and retrieve my cleaning cloth. Upon my return they had vanished into thin air!! Was I crazy??? There was no sign to the contrary…
(Photo by Maggie Begley)
I scoured my room for several days before a friend volunteered to lend his eyes to the search. Sure enough, within minutes he had rescued my glasses from within the dim recesses of my jewelry box. Absent-mindedly, I must have picked them up, gotten sidetracked opening my jewelry box to make an earring selection, and while I perused, laid my glasses inside on the bottom tier.
You wouldn't have seen them either, would you?!
(Photo by Maggie Begley)
What’s amazing to me, is that I had not only looked for them there specifically, but I had been in and out of that box at least five times after they disappeared. I had probably even been so close to have TOUCHED them and STILL I didn’t SEE them. When my friend said, “Are these them?,” I thought he was joking. When I realized he wasn’t, I surprised myself by crying…I felt betrayed by my own mind. I was so upset at having something I needed RIGHT under my nose ALL that time and not being able to SEE it! Consciously/subconsciously, we seem to see what we WANT to see when we WANT to see it, and we see what we NEED to see when we are READY to see it. Or we simply don’t have our glasses on, and couldn’t see it even if we wanted to! 🙂
To me, it was a metaphor much bigger than the situation itself. Looking isn’t necessarily seeing, but it will eventually will lead us to our treasures. Life is full of synchronous, anecdotal, archetypal, metaphorical, metaphysical, multi-sensory, intuitive, experience! Our internal/external daily life is constantly imparting information to our spiritual psyches…louder than we can hear at times. The Divine just keeps trying to reach out to us, with a full arsenal, until we finally do wake up, see, and behave differently.
Hindsight = Foresight Looking for More = Seeing More Knowing Better = Doing Better Searching = Finding…
There was another lesson here that was not lost on me: Straying from the present moment can have obvious problematic consequences, in other words, “Pay attention!!” For emphasis, I got a speeding ticket later in the week, on my way to a massage appointment of all things! Obviously, I wanted to hurry up and relax! Luckily no one was hurt by my swiftly moving non-presence, while racing through a residential neighborhood!! I’m waiting to see now if I finally heard the message loud enough!
All pared down, this is the gist of what I’m trying to get across: We are the manipulators of our own reality. What is ‘Reality’, really? It’s up for grabs. Our mind is the lens that creates our personal portrait. With care, be mindful of your own self.
(Image via Google)
Wishing Godspeed and a safe and artful journey to my fellow ‘View-Finders!’
Carlos Barrios, a Mayan elder and Ajq’ij (ceremonial priest and spiritual guide) of the Eagle Clan, initiated an investigation into the different Mayan calendars circulating. Carlos along with his brother Gerardo studied with many teachers and interviewed nearly 600 traditional Mayan elders to widen their scope of knowledge.
“Anthropologists visit the temple sites,” Mr. Barrios says, “and read the steles and inscriptions and make up stories about the Maya, but they do not read the signs correctly. It’s just their imagination… Other people write about prophecy in the name of the Maya. They say that the world will end in December 2012. The Mayan elders are angry with this. The world will not end. It will be transformed. The indigenous have the calendars, and know how to accurately interpret it, not others.”
Aside from the obvious lesson of being careful in our interpretations of sacred writings and beliefs…the message here is one of TRANSFORMATION, not fear. It sounds like the world as we know it may be coming to an end…The new birth of Transformation is not an easy one, but it is a necessary part of an evolving life on the home planet. And an exciting time to be alive.
The New Year has potential to be a very GOOD thing! Make it so. 🙂
Puddle Prediction on New Year's Day (Photo by Maggie Begley)
The statement in question is bound to evoke a response: the good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent. In this post I’m attempting to address the ‘elephant in the room’ of my work, and my life. It may, or may not, look like what you were supposing…
In society, labels are what (simply) put us in our respective (or irrespective) place. We are naturally prone to such, for that I am not proud. In some ways, I am the person I once judged. Once you live a little, and get a few life-experiences under your belt, you realize that neither you, nor anyone else, is perfect. (I’ve learned to ‘Never say never’! Such a stand will come back and bite you in the butt!). In spite of that, I can humbly say, ‘What I’m most proud of today is…ME’. I am more accepting and compassionate of myself, and therefore of others, than I ever have been.
My association with Christianity is, and has been, good, bad, ugly, AND indifferent. The topic still makes me nervous and uncomfortable. You know what they say, if you want to keep the peace in the family, don’t mix business with pleasure, and never discuss religion or politics. Sometimes silence gets stuck in your throat. You eventually have to cough it up, and deal with the consequences, rather than die of suffocation! I know the realities, and they are many. Being the hugger that I am, they get all squished together…
Rosary Prayer Beads (Photo by Maggie Begley)
I was raised not just Christian, but Catholic. I attended daily mass, prayer meetings, catholic school, ducked into the confessional, said the rosary, grace before mealtime and bedtime, wanted to be a nun. All I really understood was the goodness, and the rules (though not the dogma, not in the larger context). That goodness is what shaped me. It’s what I have so many fond memories of, and gratitude for. My upbringing afforded me a sense of stability, community, routine, tradition, faith, hope, love, compassion, caring for the needy, believing in something bigger outside of my little self, and having a friend in Jesus 24/7. It was kind of like belonging to a special club. I still find that when I come across a fellow person who was raised Catholic (still practicing, disavowed, or not), there is an instant unspoken camaraderie. No matter where I’ve been in the world, I can go to a Catholic Mass, and feel at home. (Not to be sacrilegious, but It’s like going to a chain store, you know generally what you’re going to get, the only discrepancies are based on demographics and location).
Jesus is someone I still consider a guiding Light and guide. I’ve just broadened and added to my list of supporters, my spiritual family of beliefs, none of them contradictory. Energy is dynamic, not static. The energetic heart of spirituality is unchanging, constantly beating, always and forever. Religion and it’s followers, must grow and change, like it or not, we ARE of this world too. Thus change, in that way, is unavoidable and imminent. Religion is a man-made institution (literally), thus it is imperfect because WE are imperfect, not God! The common denominator that everyone can agree on, theoretically though not in practice, is Love. That concept gets lost in the cultural details of human-created time and space. (Give mysticism a chance, it’s message has been a part of every religion throughout time).
I grew up to study anthropology and to travel. Such endeavors were bound to open up new worlds, previously unknown to my sheltered self. (This is precisely why conservative fundamentalists avoid letting their kids do such things). This is the where the ‘indifferent’ part comes in to play. It made me realize more of who I was, how I fit in, and that the entire world wasn’t Catholic (!) and that it was okay. It was a shock at first, but I became more indifferent to what others thought of me (at least that’s what I thought, though not necessarily what I felt). This is the time I became a temporary hairy-legged hippie, but a lasting liberal, vegetarian with an Indian Teacher. But I was always a good girl; never smoked anything (not so much as a cigarette), done any drugs or drank more than a half a glass of alcohol, and have only ever had two boyfriends (one of which I married).
As I went along through life, I began to notice more of the ‘bad’. I began to see how the more severe Christian rules did scar my mind (puritanism, denial of nature/physicality, views on birth control and the role of women). Also, Christians have done so much good around the world, but why do they always feel the need to try to convert everyone along the way? Isn’t just doing a charitable deed sufficient, in and of itself, no strings attached? Today that means that you get a dose of Christianity along with your English language lessons, or a knock at your door. Historically, it meant punishment, imprisonment, torture, and death. It still means war.
Being made aware of the violent history of the church was beyond my imagination, as was the recent exposure of sex scandals in the Catholic Church. I had to come to terms with that. This is the ‘ugly’ part. It doesn’t seem fair that a few bad bits of fruit have the power to contaminate the entire bunch. So, I decided not to ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’. Most of what happened had nothing to do with Christ, nor was it condoned by Him, I’m sure. What is conveyed in the Bible is up for interpretation; is it literal, allegorical, or both? Divinely inspired or not, it had numerous authors over time, and it must be duly noted in it’s cultural and historical context. Like so many other Catholics around the globe (the numbers of which are dwindling), after careful consideration, I’m going pick and choose what I feel is best for me, and then keep it to myself. (Shhh).
Now that I’ve become an Energy Medicine Practitioner, I am faced with labels again. The Fundamental Field (of Advanced Energy Medicine) is the name of an actual energy field, a universal atom-like pattern of life-energy, which my mentor, Dr. Metz discovered. We address it therapeutically in our work with clients. We have been asked why we decided have the descriptor, ‘fundamental’, in the title. Several folks have suggested that they didn’t think it was a desirable name because, “You don’t want to people to be confused and think you’re a group of fundamental Christians!!” I’ve replied by saying, “I DO have a problem with fundamentalist zealots of all kinds (religiously, spiritually, politically, socially…). But I don’t have a problem with Christians, and in my opinion, they needn’t have a problem with me.”
In liberal, new-age circles, ‘conservative‘ and‘Christian’ have become bad words, as have ‘liberal’ and ‘new-age’ among Christians (as I’ve spoken about in a previous post). I AM also proud to say that my friends are comprised of about 1/3 Christian, 1/3 agnostic, and 1/3 new-age metaphysical types. I manage to relate to, and respect, all of them. I AM all of them in some way or another.
The Highest Command (Photo by Maggie Begley)
One meaning of the word, ‘fundamental’, is ‘a return to the original tenets’. I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. It’s when people expect and demand that everyone else be like them, or suffer consequences, that situations rapidly deteriorate and become deadly. I think that’s more a function of dogma, ego and fear of long-held traditions breaking down. It’s a classic case of xenophobia. (That, and the imbalance of power and resources which exist worldwide, resulting in various individuals/groups trying to (re-)establish a sense of control. That is a whole other critical topic unto itself…The natives are getting restless…).
I’m a semi-rebellious traditionalist, uncomfortable with change and not being able to predict or have absolute control over my future (thank God). So, I can understand fear as a personal and cultural phenomenon. However, from a spiritual standpoint, fundamentalism is good if it means a return to the foundations of a basic truth. That’s where Dr. Metz’ Fundamental Field of Life-Energy and Advanced Energy Medicine comes in. We named it such, because we believe that the very basis of life is pure love and light…Spirit as expressed through the laws of science and the fundamental forces of nature. To me, that is fundamentalism of the highest order!
Fundamental Field Theory/Therapy has its basis in traditional medicine modalities, combined with modern science, such as physics and systems theory. Traditional indigenous societies didn’t see spirituality and nature as separate from medicine and health, but as one in the same. Nowadays, science is catching up to spirit, and is able to explain a lot of what traditional societies already knew, while at the same time, is able to rule out things that were based more on cultural taboo and superstition. It sounds like a good union to me, an obvious one that is finally and slowly becoming a part of mass-consciousness. Fundamental Field Theory/Therapy is an equal-opportunity health care provider. You can come at it in whatever way suits you best: spirituality, science, both/none, and it will still work.
Mother Mary Come to Me - A Family Heirloom (Photo by Maggie Begley)
I have come to a time in my life where I want to embrace the roots from which I grew, AND the branches which have grown up in me. I want to return to a place of innocence, of a belief that all is loving and good. Not to a place of naive innocence, rather to one of informed innocence.
“Through our own recovered innocence we discern the innocence of our neighbors.”
(Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), U.S. philosopher, author, naturalist. Walden (1854), in The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, vol. 2, pp. 346-347, Houghton Mifflin (1906).) More quotations from: Henry David Thoreau
I’m going to give you a disturbing example of my early innocent naiveté (aside from the obvious one of finding out that my parents had been lying to me about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny). I used to think that if it was in writing it must be true, because NO ONE would ever LIE, especially in print for everyone to see. There must be someone that oversaw to that fact. I also realize now that a lot of the world still feels that way: unquestioning of the history, the politics, the power, money, greed, and ego from which so much is generated. Unfortunately most of the world doesn’t have access to learning, or the willingness to practice, those kind of critical thinking skills. (The advertisers, et. al., see to that, and play into it).
There are as many biases as there are people (and frighteningly, world population estimates are approaching 7 billion!!). Every one of us starts out at the mercy of all the subcultures we are a part of in our tiny corner of the planet (family, friends, school, church, town, state, nation). It is part of the human design to take in and process information, based on our own personal ‘wiring’. (In this regard, the recent book by an acquaintance of mine, Rio Olesky, Manual for the Modern Mystic, would be an interesting read). It is part of our human responsibility to at some point reflect and question those biases, and at least become aware of what we would like to keep, let go, and change.
Bible Verse ~ 1 John 2:9 (Photo by Maggie Begley)
True happiness also comes from realizing and accepting that we all have our place in the grand scheme. Whether one considers themselves aChristian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, faith-based, rational-minded, atheistic, agnostic, any or all of the above…it don’t matter ’cause we’re stuck here together, so you better get used to it! If you continue to work the puzzle, things add up from all points of the equation. Everything fits together somehow, some way, even if we don’t see the whole for the pieces. At the end of class, the whole lot of us are destined to find out the answer…who was REALLY right? 🙂
It is good to question, even if we never find the answers we seek. When we listen to others, we don’t have to agree with them, but we just may learn something about ourselves, and the world in the process. How can that be a bad thing? Unbelievably (even to me), I can get behind what both of these men are debating on this particular clip. I can hold these views at once. I know for certain my OWN truth. As Bill Maher says, “No one really knows anything for sure.”
Individual uniqueness is something that we all share, yet it’s precisely what sets us apart from one another. This is something to be celebrated, not squashed. But non-conformance makes people anxious, such a thing would be chaos! There must be some kind of social order! (They kind of have a point :)). Sadly we don’t live in an egalitarian society. It is unjust, at least from a worldly point of view. If we had a just world, we’d have heaven on earth…But that’s not its purpose. From a spiritual point of view, perfect justice is being played out. In this earthly realm the Law of Karma is the Law of Justice. “As you sow, so shall you reap.” (Bible Verse – Galatians 6:7).
Fortunately, uniqueness does appear to be in fashion these days, and leave it to the artists to start the revolutions. Michael Jackson was the icon of his day, one of the first musicians to bring people together, of all ages and backgrounds, onto the same dance floor. His legacy lives on. The torch is being carried by the responsible reigning queen of theatrical self-expression and social harmony, Lady Gaga. How exciting! (This video interview with her is worth watching all the way through). Michael Jackson was raised a Christian, Jehovah’s Witness surprisingly, and Lady Gaga, not unlike her predecessor Madonna, is Catholic. (When Catholic girls rebel, they tend to do it in a big way).
As the saying goes, you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. We are most at peace when we decide what we believe, and then work to have our internal and external worlds be in sync. (I wish it was as uncomplicated as connecting my iphone to my computer, just plugging in and clicking ‘sync’!). That is true happiness. It’s not that easy though, especially if you’re a sensitive sort. Being in this world is like walking on broken glass. We must have sturdy souls (pun, fully intended). To protect ourselves, we’ve got to be tough…too calloused and we have the opposite problem on our hands. Tread softly, but don’t be afraid to stand your ground (even if it’s a hand-stand!), and carry a big stick…(just don’t use it on anyone!). 🙂
The Spirited Soul 
A Christian Conversation
Image via https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodLordAbove
This is a conversation which began with a friend of a friend on a personal Facebook account. My friend is an atheist who posted this picture, and her friend is obviously not, as you can see by the comments of this person I call, ‘other’.
I had to chime in on the conversation, of course! I thought it was interesting enough to make a post of it. We all come at our existence and how we relate to the bigger picture from different paths.
This is the direct account of what was said, names removed:
Other: what would you know about prayer? just curious
[This was in reply to my atheist friend who posted the photo and who doesn’t make a reply here. The ‘other’ and myself take the conversation further…].
Maggie: We change ourselves by praying to God to help us be a better person, to be grateful, humble, respectful and loving, not to get our way. At least that’s what I pray for. And I do think that everything happens for a reason, that there is a divine plan. As in politics there are conservative religious, and liberal spiritual, as you know, I’m more of the latter. I see your point though, most of the prayerful are biased, wanting God to take sides. They want to be the ones in control instead of a loving non-judgmental God which to me is scapegoating, hypocritical, egocentric and xenophobic.
Other: If I may respectfully say, He is loving and also judgmental. Real love without judgement is not love at all but some warm fuzzy feeling. I agree that most people want to be in control of what God should and shouldn’t do in his/her life. There is no conservative or liberal God but only the God of the Bible. He is the One we need to get to know better and if our opinion differs from His then we are wrong. So I guess He does take sides: His. And we’d better be on His side 🙂
Maggie: My Opinion: I agree, God does take sides when it comes to the basics of “right” and “wrong”. It is up to us to make our decisions and reap the consequences thereof, “good” or “bad”. It’s called free will and personal responsibility. God doesn’t take sides with regards to religion. He loves all of us, unconditionally in a warm fuzzy way, not just a select few. He has His rules, but He is a loving father. I think we project our views on to Him, thus making Him a conservative, a liberal, or non-existent. No one really knows for sure, that’s why I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, without our judgement getting in the way. Who are we to judge?
Other: Perhaps when we read how Jesus treated the religious leaders who had their own opinion about God can give us a better insight what God thinks about religions. He hates false religions. He wants all of us to come to Him, to His reality and not what we make out Him to be. I agree, He is a loving Father but somehow I don’t think His love is the fuzzy, mushy kind. John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the [f]only begotten Son of God. ….and following verses. He asks us to judge! We definitely need to judge but WITH RIGHT MOTIVES not like the Pharisees and the other religious leaders did. If there are genuine “good” and “evil” then we must judge between them correctly like He does.
Maggie: We are operating from different premises, as I don’t use the Bible as my point of reference in the way that you do…So we’ll just have to agree to disagree…
Other: That is fine with me. I just wonder then how you come to objective truth? Or you prefer to be a relativist?
Maggie: I was raised Catholic, but my view of God is more comprehensive now. I’m not a relativist in that I do believe in one absolute truth, but I guess I am a relativist in that I believe that Truth is interpreted relative to each person’s conceptualizations. I’d say I’m an experientialist…for me, experience is the only true knowing. I believe ALL Holy books have value, but I prefer to interpret them from the mystical point of view, not a literal one. Mysticism is a common thread in all major religions, and “pagan” ones as well, meaning seeking direct experience of God. So I guess you could say the former is my objective truth, and the latter is my subjective truth.
The Facebook conversation between the two of us ended at this point. But would you like to add to the conversation here? I invite you…They who pray well together, play well together… 🙂
Image via https://www.facebook.com/peaceday
For more insight into this topic, check this out: “God Is Not a Christian” from the Huffington Post. It is an excerpt from the recent book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
I now end with this, just to show that I have a sense of humor even though I take things very seriously. When something is funny, even with gross generalizations, it usually means it contains a shred of reality… 🙂 I can personally vouch for the Catholic portion.
Image via https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodLordAbove
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